Jim Tressel to Become Colts Head Coach?

Tony Dungy believes the Colts could be targeting Jim Tressel (pictured) as their next head coach Photo: Reuters

The Indianapolis Colts could be leaning towards hiring former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel, according to NBC Sports analyst Tony Dungy.

Dungy, who guided the Colts to a Super Bowl victory in 2007, told the Dan Patrick Show that he believes Tressel could be the top candidate to replace Jim Caldwell as the Colts' next head coach.

I think Jim Irsay has his man in mind, Dungy told the radio show. It may be Jim Tressel, that's what I'm hearing.

Tressel currently works as a gameday consultant for the Colts, but is best known for his tenure at Ohio State. He had a lot of success at Ohio State, including a national championship in 2002, but was forced to resign in shame amid an NCAA investigation in 2011.

The 59-year-old was caught knowingly hiding information about quarterback Terrelle Pryor and others trading autographed memorabilia for free tattoos and cash. Tressel resigned before the NCAA eventually hit the school with a one-year bowl ban and reduction of scholarships for knowingly refusing to self-report violations to the collegiate body.

Colts owner Irsay is said to be a big fan of Tressel, but the likelihood of him ending up as Indianapolis' next head coach still seems to be small. Less than a week ago CBS Sports' Mike Freeman reported that there was no way in hell the Colts would hire Tressel as their head coach, according to a source within the organization.

The former Ohio State coach remains relatively popular in Ohio, but based on the responses on IndyStar.com -- Hoosiers aren't thrilled with the idea of Tressel as their next coach.

A collection of angry Colts fans wrote in to Indy Star writer Mike Chappell with complaints about Tressel, but one of the best came from Debby from Palmyra, Va.

Debby wrote:

I am appalled at the article even hinting of Jim Tressel being the next Colts' head coach. I thought Jim Irsay was a Christian. I do not understand, being a Christian, how he could hire a man with no morals. I'm sure he wants the best football knowledgeable man he can find, but PLEASE . . . I'm from Indiana and have been a proud Colts fan for a very long time. No, I don't understand the system of politics and money in the NFL, but there has got to be someone else that we as fans can appreciate and look up to.

The Colts dumped Caldwell last Tuesday after he guided them to a disappointing 2-14 campaign in 2011-12. The organization has also recently fired its vice chairman, Bill Polian, and its general manager, Chris Polian.